Child Safety Issues in Cyberspace: A Critical Theory of Trends and Challenges in the ASEAN Region

The Internet has revolutionised the ways in which people interact and access information. While a majority of the contents found in cyberspace are useful and beneficial to communities, there are some which are not suitable for children and adolescents. Specifically, contents that are suitable only for adults can be easily accessed by children. This poses a significant challenge to children’s normal development. Further, individuals, groups and organisations have misused certain cyberspace facilities, such as social interaction websites and online game sites, to specifically target children and abuse and harm them. Police and other law making authorities are seriously challenged by rapidly developing Internet technology and newly emerging techniques in which anti-social elements target children. Communities living in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region are no exception to these challenges. This paper using critical theory analyses the cyber challenges faced by children in this region and suggests ways in which policy makers can take firm steps to protect them to ensure their safety and maximise the benefits of online contents.